Chapter 40 Glimmer (9) But I thought, what if?
A leisurely weekend. The snow outside the window hasn't stopped; it's being whipped by the wind and pattering against the French windows, making a soft, rustling sound.
The underfloor heating was strong, dispelling the chill of deep winter. Wen Chen leaned back on the sofa, holding an original architecture book in her hands, her fingertips occasionally turning the pages.
Gu Moheng sat on the carpet not far from him, his long legs bent, with the ever-present laptop resting on his lap.
The two did not disturb each other, which was a rare moment of peace for Wen Chen since he had been staying here.
The tranquility was broken by a sudden ringtone. Wen Chen glanced at the vibrating phone on the coffee table; the screen displayed the words "Mother." He picked it up and answered, his voice gentle: "Mom."
Gu Moheng's fingers, which were typing on the keyboard, stopped instantly, and his ears twitched almost imperceptibly.
A cheerful voice came from the other end of the phone: "Your father and I just finished viewing the art exhibition and were planning to stop by to see you."
Wen Chen was taken aback: "Come over?"
“Yes,” Wen’s mother’s voice came through clearly, “They’re downstairs, and we were just about to ask you to open the access gate for us.”
Wen Chen glanced at the wall clock subconsciously. Before he could speak, his mother seemed to have suddenly noticed something, and her tone became somewhat subtle: "Hey, Lao Wen, look, isn't this the building that Lao Li mentioned before, the place where that Xiao Gu lives?"
The faint muttering of Wen's father could be heard from the other end of the phone.
Wen's mother then spoke into the microphone, "Chenchen, your dad's friend said he saw you enter this building last time. We thought we were mistaken, but it seems it really is here."
Wen Chen's fingers tightened around her phone, and Gu Moheng had obviously heard the leaked audio as well.
"Mom, wait a moment, I'll unlock the door for you." Wen Chen hung up the phone.
Almost simultaneously, Gu Moheng jumped to his feet, his movement so sudden that his knee slammed against the edge of the coffee table with a dull thud. But he seemed oblivious to the pain, his gaze frantically scanning the living room.
"I...do I need to leave?" Gu Moheng's voice was tight, his Adam's apple bobbing violently. "Should I go to the balcony? Or the bathroom?"
Seeing his alarmed expression, Wen Chen closed the book in her hand and calmly raised her eyes, "This is the top floor. Are you going to the balcony to perform a skydive?"
Gu Moheng's face turned pale, and he pursed his lips tightly: "I can hide in the closet."
Mr. Gu, the powerful head of Mosheng Capital and a billionaire, actually suggested crawling into the closet. Wen Chen was both amused and annoyed. "Why didn't you do this when you came to my house?"
“Is a carefully planned proactive attack the same as being suddenly attacked…” Gu Moheng frowned and muttered in a low voice that Wen Chen couldn’t hear.
"Sit down." Wen Chen pointed to the single sofa next to him.
Gu Moheng hesitated for a moment, but upon meeting Wen Chen's slightly cold gaze, he immediately sat down obediently. His back was ramrod straight, and his hands were neatly placed on his knees, just like a primary school student waiting to be called on.
"Straighten your collar," Wen Chen reminded him.
Gu Moheng hurriedly straightened the collar of his sweater and ruffled his hair, but his eyes remained anxiously fixed on Wen Chen.
"Ding-dong—"
The doorbell rang.
Gu Moheng trembled and subconsciously held his breath.
The door opened, and Wen's mother was wearing an elegant embroidered cheongsam with a thick cashmere shawl draped over her shoulders.
"Dad, Mom, it's cold outside, come in quickly." Wen Chen stepped aside to make room for her.
Mother Wen smiled and patted the snowflakes off her shoulder, her gaze passing over her son's shoulder and landing precisely on the living room. Gu Moheng had already stood up the moment the door opened, and was now standing stiffly beside the sofa.
Upon seeing the two elders enter, he immediately bowed deeply, saying, "Uncle, Aunt, good evening." His voice was somewhat hoarse, and he was clearly nervous.
Mr. Wen nodded with a smile as he looked at Gu Moheng. Mrs. Wen's eyes swept over Gu Moheng, then looked at her own son, her smile deepening. "So that's why the heating in this room is so strong. It's because there's another person here."
As she spoke, Mrs. Wen changed her shoes and walked into the living room. Gu Moheng didn't even dare to look the two elders in the eye, and could only stand to the side with his hands hanging down, his domineering CEO aura completely gone.
"Sit down, don't be shy," Mr. Wen said kindly, waving his hand.
Gu Moheng then dared to sit down, but only half of his buttocks were on the floor.
Wen Chen went to the kitchen to make tea, leaving only this strange combination of the three of them in the living room.
Mrs. Wen did not sit down immediately, but instead looked around the apartment with great interest. Her gaze was sharp and keen, not missing a single detail.
Wen Chen walked over carrying a freshly brewed Da Hong Pao tea, its aroma instantly filling the somewhat stagnant air. He gently placed the teacup in front of his parents, glancing out of the corner of his eye at Gu Moheng, who was stiffly maintaining that "half-sitting" posture, his knees even pressed tightly together.
Wen Chen almost laughed, glancing at Gu Moheng indifferently. Gu Moheng received the look and immediately got up to pour tea.
This scene was extremely brief, but it was witnessed by Wen's mother.
Her gaze fell on the coffee table, where two mugs sat side by side. One was Wen Chen's usual white ceramic mug, and the other was dark gray; they were identical in style and clearly a pair.
Mother Wen raised an eyebrow, said nothing, and took a sip of her tea.
“This house has good natural light,” Mr. Wen said, looking around. “Chenchen’s old house was too dark; it hurt his eyes when he drew pictures.”
“Yes,” Gu Moheng quickly replied, “The floor-to-ceiling windows here are double-glazed with laminated glass, which have high light transmittance and good sound insulation, so they won’t disturb his rest.”
Mr. Wen nodded approvingly, his gaze immediately drawn to a patch of lush greenery in the corner of the balcony.
"Wow, that bird of paradise plant is really well grown." Mr. Wen got up and walked over, reaching out to touch its thick, broad leaves. "The leaves are glossy green, and the plant is upright. It looks much better than the one at home."
“You have excellent taste.” Gu Moheng quickly followed. “This pot is the ‘Nikola’ variety, which prefers warm temperatures and dislikes cold.”
Gu Moheng pointed to the ventilation hole at the bottom of the flowerpot and spoke quickly, "I've looked it up. This plant requires high humidity, so I spray it with water mist three times a day, morning, noon and evening. Also, it's afraid of direct sunlight, so I put it in the southeast corner, where the diffused light is most suitable for its growth."
Mr. Wen nodded repeatedly, his eyes full of admiration: "Young Gu is knowledgeable; it seems he has put a lot of thought into it."
Encouraged, Gu Moheng couldn't help but smile, his cleverness once again taking over.
“Of course,” Gu Moheng blurted out, “Wen Chen said you like this plant the most, so since I want to…”
The sound stopped abruptly.
The air suddenly became quiet, so quiet that only the sound of wind and snow hitting the glass outside the window could be heard.
The smile on Gu Moheng's face froze instantly, then cracked little by little, and the color drained completely from his face.
Wen Chen still held a teacup in his hand, the rising steam blurring the expression behind his glasses. But his clear, bright eyes were looking at Gu Moheng through the mist, a half-smile on his face.
Wen Chen had never told him that his father liked bird of paradise. Even Wen Chen himself only knew that his father liked to play with flowers and plants, but never specified a particular variety.
That was done by Gu Moheng. The background check report on Wen Chen not only included Wen Chen's preferences, but also all of the Wen family elders' living habits, interests, and even the half-dead bird of paradise plant that Wen's father had.
Gu Moheng's Adam's apple bobbed violently, as if an invisible hand had gripped his throat.
It's over.
Those two words flashed through his mind, and the little bit of goodwill he had just accumulated now turned into landmines that could explode at any moment.
He broke the contract.
Unaware of the strange atmosphere, Mr. Wen asked cheerfully, "Did Chenchen mention it to you? I've never seen this child so thoughtful before."
Gu Moheng opened his mouth, but no sound came out. He dared not lie, much less admit it.
In those suffocating seconds, Wen Chen put down his teacup. The porcelain cup tapped lightly on the tea table, making a crisp sound. He stood up, walked over, and stopped beside Gu Moheng, so close that Gu Moheng could smell his faint fragrance.
“Yes,” Wen Chen’s voice was steady, without a trace of emotion. “I mentioned it casually on the phone last time, and I didn’t expect him to remember it so well.”
“Dad, please stop praising him,” Wen Chen turned to her father and smiled. “If you keep praising him, he’ll get all cocky.”
Father Wen laughed heartily: "Alright, alright, these young people nowadays, as long as they have the intention, that's good."
Gu Moheng's stiff body slowly softened, but his heart was still pounding wildly in his chest.
Father Wen's hearty laughter was like a gust of wind, temporarily dispelling the almost frozen awkwardness in the living room.
Gu Moheng's tense back slumped slightly, his palms sweating profusely. He secretly raised his eyes, his gaze cautiously reaching for Wen Chen's profile.
Wen Chen remained calm as he bent down to add tea to his father's cup.
"Little Gu."
Wen's mother, who hadn't spoken much until now, suddenly opened her mouth. Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried a scrutinizing quality typical of an elder.
Gu Moheng's heart, which had just calmed down, jumped again, and he immediately sat up straight: "Auntie, please speak."
Mrs. Wen put down her celadon teacup, glanced around the apartment, and finally fixed her gaze on the uniquely designed streamlined bookshelf wall in the living room. "How long have you owned this apartment?"
Gu Moheng's Adam's apple bobbed. If he said it was newly bought, the smell of the renovation wouldn't match; if he said it was bought a long time ago, when he was still on the other side of the ocean. No matter how he answered, it seemed to point to his premeditated spying on Wen Chen.
Gu Moheng subconsciously looked at Wen Chen.
Wen Chen leaned back on the sofa, her fingers tracing the rim of her cup, and gave him a barely perceptible nod through the rising steam.
Gu Moheng took a deep breath. "Two years." His voice was low, with a slight, almost imperceptible tremor.
Mrs. Wen raised an eyebrow: "Two years ago? You should have been abroad back then, right?"
"Yes." Gu Moheng lowered his eyes, his long eyelashes concealing the turbulent emotions in them. He clasped his hands together on his knees, his knuckles turning slightly white from the force. "At that time, I had just paid off my last debt."
The living room was quiet, with only the sound of howling wind and snow outside the window.
Gu Moheng's voice was very soft, but every word seemed to be ripped from his heart.
"I want to...give him a home."
Wen Chen's fingers, which were holding the teacup, suddenly paused.
"At that time, I didn't dare to contact him, and I wasn't sure if he still wanted me. But I thought, what if?"
"If he ever decides to turn around and take one last look, I'll have to prepare my nest. Even if... even if he never comes, I'll still stay here."
Even if this is just an empty city that traps him.
Wen's mother remained silent for a long time. She looked at Gu Moheng, and the scrutinizing sharpness in her eyes slowly faded, replaced by a complex emotion—the emotion of someone who had been through it all being moved by a sincere heart.
“You child…” Wen’s mother shook her head and patted Wen Chen’s hand beside her. “You look shrewd, but you’re actually too honest.”
It's unclear whether these words were directed at Gu Moheng or were a subtle suggestion for his son.
Wen Chen didn't say anything, but simply took her mother's hand in return.
It's getting late, and the snow outside seems to have lessened a bit.
The two elders got up to leave.
Gu Moheng immediately stood up, his movements so fast they were almost frantic, as he rushed to grab the coat and scarf from the hanger. He respectfully handed over Wen's mother's cashmere shawl, his posture very humble.
Wen's mother tied her shawl and went to the entrance to change her shoes.
Just before leaving, she suddenly stopped and turned to look at Gu Moheng standing behind Wen Chen.
"Little Gu."
Gu Moheng immediately responded, "Auntie."
"If you don't have any plans this weekend, come over for a meal." Mrs. Wen smiled, her tone as natural as if she were talking to a younger family member. "It's getting cold, so I cured some salted meat myself. It tastes pretty good. I'll bring some back for you."
Gu Moheng's eyes instantly reddened. "Thank you... thank you, Auntie."
The elevator doors closed, and the red numbers began to flash.
After the two elders left, the apartment returned to quiet.
Gu Moheng remained standing in the entryway, maintaining the posture of seeing off guests, without moving for a long time.
Wen Chen closed the door, turned around and walked back. When she passed Gu Moheng, she did not stop.
Reaching the study door, Wen Chen suddenly stopped, his hand on the doorknob. He turned to the side, his gaze sweeping across the spacious living room and landing on the vibrant bird-of-paradise plant in the corner of the balcony.
"The plants on the balcony..." Wen Chen paused, her gaze sweeping over Gu Moheng's face, "are indeed well taken care of."
Gu Moheng was stunned. Before he could react to the deeper meaning behind those words, the study door slammed shut.
late at night.
Only one floor lamp was on in the study, casting a dim and warm light.
Wen Chen sat at his desk working on the drawings he hadn't finished during the day.
The door was gently pushed open a crack, and Gu Moheng walked very quietly.
Wen Chen didn't look up: "Is something the matter?"
Gu Moheng stood by the desk, holding a densely written list in his hand. "Wen Chen, you said your uncle likes to drink tea..." He lowered his voice, as if he were discussing a multi-million dollar merger.
“I asked someone to find a batch of Pu’er tea from Menghai Tea Factory in 2003. It’s been stored in a dry warehouse, so the taste should be quite mellow.” Gu Moheng frowned, looking somewhat anxious. “But I’m not sure if my uncle prefers raw or ripe Pu’er?”
"And the silk scarf for your aunt, isn't the color too plain?"
Wen Chen put down his pen, turned around, the chair making a slight swaying sound, and looked up quietly at the man in front of him. Under the light, Gu Moheng's eyes had a faint bluish tint, and the tip of his ear, which was sticking out from under his hair, was almost translucent red.
Wen Chen suddenly reached out, her fingertips slightly cool, and gently touched Gu Moheng's burning earlobe.
Gu Moheng shuddered, as if struck by lightning. He looked at Wen Chen blankly, his Adam's apple bobbing: "...Hmm?"
Wen Chen's fingers didn't leave, but instead gently slid down his earlobe, finally pausing for a moment on his taut jawline. That almost imperceptible touch was more alluring than any passionate kiss.
"Gu Moheng."
Wen Chen called him by his full name, "Buy any gift you like."
Gu Moheng looked at him, holding his breath.
Wen Chen withdrew his hand, his fingertips still warm from the other's body. He turned back around, picked up the paintbrush on the table, and left Gu Moheng with only a cold profile.
"As long as people come, that's fine."
The study returned to silence, with only the scratching sound of pen nibs on paper.
Gu Moheng stood there, his hand instinctively covering the ear that Wen Chen had just touched.
Scalding hot, that touch seemed to be branded into my soul.
"Okay," he replied softly, his lips curving into an uncontrollable, wild grin.
That night, the powerful and influential CEO Gu held his injured ear and stayed awake until dawn.
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